I love Asakusa. I know, I know, it’s one of Tokyo’s most touristed neighborhoods, but somehow that only adds to the appeal. The city’s oldest temple, the city’s newest (and tallest) building, tasty treats from the Edo era and a host of little secrets hidden in the backstreets … some places in your guidebook may not be worth a visit, but Asakusa should top any Tokyo visitor’s list.

Old Tokyo may have been mostly wiped out by 20th century disasters, but pockets of it still flourish in the Asakusa (ah-SOCK-sah) neighborhood of northeast Tokyo. Here you’re more likely to trip over rickshaw drivers than salarymen. Once considered a bastion of bawdy behavior when music halls and brothels took up residence in the area, the nightlife has moved on but the crowds continue to come. The biggest draw is Sensoji Temple, occupying a huge chunk of real estate near the river.

One of the inner gates of Senso-ji

Before you even see the temple, you’ll have to pass under the Kaminarimon. Meaning “thunder gate” it’s protected on either side by its resident deities – Fujin, the god of wind, on the right and Raijin, the god of thunder, on the left. Check out their statues. The heads are from the Edo Period (1603-1868) while the bodies are more recent creations. The large red lantern in the middle of the gate sports the two kanji for “Kaminarimon” (read top to bottom). The lantern was actually a gift to the temple from the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, more popularly known as Panasonic.

Kaminarimon

Cross under the gate and you’re at the end of Nakamise-dori, or “inner shopping street”. Home to nearly 90 stalls peddling everything from postcards, keychains and cheap toys to quality fans, dolls and kimono accessories, you could easily spend several hours in this one alley alone. A number of the shops in this street have been here for generations. An edict by the shogunate in the late 17th century allowed locals living in residences along Nakamise-dori to put out small stalls, in exchange for keeping the neighborhood clean. With the steady stream of temple visitors and the Japanese custom of not returning empty-handed from a trip, the shops along Nakamise-dori continue to do a brisk trade to this day.

Fans for sale on Nakamise-dori

Besides Sensoji and its multiple outbuildings, don’t miss these other neighborhood gems:

Hanayashiki Amusement Park – Looking a bit past its prime, Hanayashiki Amusement Park sits on the edge of what was once Asakusa’s pleasure district. Hanayashiki began its life as a flower park in 1853, the same year that Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in his famous “black ships”. Animal cages with big cats and exotic birds were added in the 1870s, followed soon after by “moving pictures”. After World War II, it reopened as an amusement park, and now is home to Japan’s oldest roller coaster. If the kids are along, a visit to the park can make for a fun couple of hours. If not, content yourself with a peek through the gates and a nostalgic sigh for old times’ sake.

Chingodo Shrine – If you’ve ever played the Nintendo game Super Mario Brothers (think Mario’s raccoon suit), you might recognize the animal that this shrine venerates. Meet the tanuki, a part-raccoon, part-dog character from Japanese mythology. Tanuki are known as mischief makers and shape-shifters, but can be somewhat absent-minded. They usually wear straw hats, carry bottles of sake, and possess enormous testicles on which they can supposedly fly. (I kid you not. Just look.) The shrine was dedicated in 1872, following an outbreak of mischief by bands of tanuki (more likely regular raccoons) that had moved into the neighborhood and disturbed the temple grounds. Chances of finding any in the neighborhood today are slim, unless you count the many tanuki statues that guard the entrances of Japanese eateries.

Demboin Garden – Finally, an oasis of calm in the midst of the bustle. Welcome to Asakusa’s best-kept secret. This charming garden was laid out in the 1600s by Zen master landscape designer Kobori Enshu. The temple complex was added a century later. It sits on land owned by the Senso-ji complex; in fact, the chief abbot of Senso-ji has his living quarters here. In the spring, the wisteria are in full bloom, making the garden even more inviting. You CAN get in but it’s difficult. If you’re unsuccessful in scoring a ticket, you can get a great glimpse of the garden from the Chingodo Shrine.

Dembo-in Garden in Asakusa

Looking to book a Tokyo itinerary? I always include my self-guided walk to Asakusa. Tested by others and consistently updated (for one year, they had completely torn down the Tourist Office for renovations … the start of the walk had to be moved!), it’s been mentioned as a highlight of any trip to Japan.

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3 thoughts on “Better Know a Neighborhood: Asakusa (Tokyo)”

Asakusa is my favourite part of Tokyo and this is usually where we stay when we visit. It is a place you can discover the atmosphere of old Tokyo with Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori shopping street. I like the addition of the new Tokyo Skytree and it is a great place to pick up a traditional souvenir.

Welcome to the official blog of Uncover Japan, a one-woman travel specialist who designs personalized itineraries for visitors to the Land of the Rising Sun. Follow along as I share some of my favorite discoveries of Japan, from great restaurants to beautiful traditional gardens to "can't miss" sightseeing gems, both on and off the beaten track.